Every single time I use it I would prefer GUI output, and a proper scripting language like Python or JS.
For output I want datagrids with search, sort, group, filter, and expandable rows. Think about how many times you are looking at massive logs of some build and you just want to view the context of one build stage. Or you want to jump back to an error.
- it's super easy to use the output of one program as the input of another, and to integrate it in bigger scripts.
- it's much more discoverable. when Mac users tell me they discovered tricks like holding right click at the screen corner or whatever, I'm telling them about `--help`.
- it prevents loosing context - I'm not switching windows all the time
- it always works. usually the same. and everywhere: on my laptop, on my server, on my phone.
These are just some reasons why I love it, but I'm sure there are others. and btw if you're really into search, sort, group filtering etc - maybe you should check out nushell.
(edit: formatting)
This can be done with Python/TypeScript code and it would be much more maintainable and typesafe. I don't know anyone who enjoys writing bash scripts over TypeScript code.
> I'm telling them about `--help`
Auto-complete in a text editor is far superior.
> - it always works. usually the same. and everywhere: on my laptop, on my server, on my phone.
This is a good point.
I'm talking about doing stuff like `cat file.json| jq -r .some.thing | base64 -d > file.txt`. What even _is_ the GUI for this? and is writing this in Python/TS actually better? it's not even more maintainable. ever tried going back to your Python/TS project after a few years, setting up the environment from scratch and all? It's awful...
> Auto-complete in a text editor is far superior.
but GUI apps aren't text editors. I'm saying it's much easier for me to run `youtube-dl --help | grep something_i_am_looking_for` than to search for it in some youtube-dl interface.
100%. It could be a lot better! I'm very bullish on https://bun.sh changing this!